Games You Might Have Missed: Thunderbird Strike

Thunderbird Strike is a side-scroller by Elizabeth Pensée and her team, that has you play as the Thunderbird, a figure in indigenous folklore.

Your mission is simple: stop the construction of an oil pipeline in indigenous lands. The controls are great because they’re simple and accessible. You use the arrow keys to steer the Thunderbird, collecting lightning by flying in the clouds and using the space bar to attack construction equipment and rack up points. Later on, the lightning can also be used to help restore what’s been damaged by the construction by waking people up to what’s going on so they can engage with your cause, and fixing up animals that have been hurt or killed by the construction. You’re scored based on how much construction equipment you destroy, and how much restoration you do. It’s a really cool way to game-ify activism and show that destruction isn’t the only way to make a difference.

All the cut scenes are beautiful and explain what’s happening without using any words, instead relying on natural imagery and indigenous art design to convey what’s going on in the world. The music is fast and intense, capturing the spirit of your mission. There’s also a Mortal Kombat-esque voice that lets you know when you need to gather more lightning and when you’ve struck a fatal blow.

Thunderbird Strike is a fun, great take on a serious, contemporary issue we’re facing in the US. It’s totally free and you can get it here. To learn more about Thunderbirds, and issues surrounding pipelines, check out the resources on the Thunderbird Strike website. To help activists fight pipelines, click here.

All images courtesy of the Thunderbird Strike website.